Review on The Old Vicarage

Located in Ridgeway Village, a few miles south of the city of Sheffield, Tessa Bramley's converted vicarage is surrounded by woodland walks and wild-flower meadows. Its grounds and gardens were designed by a celebrated Victorian horticulturist and they provide the kitchen with many of its ingredients.

Tessa Bramley's dishes often sound complex, as in a casserole of crayfish and scallop infused with cardamom, cumin and lemongrass (served with fennel bread) or rack of Chatsworth lamb with chervil and lemon crust, vanilla couscous, apricots and roasted peppers. There's earthy stuff too (sage-roasted saddle of Ridgeway hare with spiced pears and beetroot, for example), while desserts have a character all of their own: sweet woodruff ice cream in a crisp pistachio wafer with Old English raspberry trifle is a classic of its kind.

The wine list (courtesy of Vicarage Wine Cellars) is a glorious selection of intelligently chosen bottles from exceptional sources, with around two dozen 'cheap and cheerful' everyday wines opening the show.

The Old Vicarage is also featured in:
Michelin Guide, Good Food Guide, AA Guide